MedfordTrees Mini-Forest project

Ecological Value of Mini-Forests. Mini-forests offer measurable ecological benefits: they cool surrounding areas, improve water infiltration, and sequester carbon. According to ecologist Douglas Tallamy, native trees—especially keystone species like oaks—play an essential role in restoring local food webs. Even small forests can quickly support caterpillars, birds, and native pollinators when planted densely and thoughtfully.

Seeking Mini-Forest Sites. We’re continuing to collect suggestions for mini-forest locations across Medford! Ideal sites get full sun, have healthy or restorable soil, nearby water access, and are safe from disturbance. You can view submitted locations on our site map and suggest more using this form. We’re especially looking for ideas in South Medford, which lacks tree cover and faces urban heat stress.

Site Evaluation In Progress. The team is now reviewing and scoring submitted sites. Volunteers are confirming neighborhood location, visibility, water access, and parcel ownership. Sites are also being reviewed for proximity to public use areas and alignment with environmental justice zones.

Sourcing Plants & Selecting Species. We aim to plant at least 25 native species in each mini-forest, spanning all forest layers—from canopy trees to groundcovers. Keystone species that support caterpillars and pollinators are a priority. We’re investigating sourcing of affordable seedlings from the NH State Forest Nursery, exploring discounts with other nurseries like the Native Plant Trust, and local growers for partnerships. Larger trees are costlier, so we're also considering community-based seed propagation to reduce costs and grow plants locally. Full native species lists and sourcing availability are being compiled.

Including Herbaceous Native Plants. As suggested by members of the TreesMedford community, we’re incorporating herbaceous native plants into our mini-forest plans—especially along the forest edges where sunlight is more abundant. These flowering plants play a critical role in supporting pollinators, extending seasonal bloom periods, and enhancing biodiversity. We are currently assembling a list of local ecotype herbaceous species that are well-suited for edge plantings in Medford.

Community Science and Education Partnerships. An important element to this project is finding a community partner to support biodiversity monitoring and long-term site care. Students could help track ecological changes over time and assist with watering, maintenance, or even nursery work. These partnerships help ground the project in community-based science and education.

Lessons from the Northeast Mini-Forest Summit. Two steering committee members attended Bio4Climate’s Northeast Mini-Forest Summit to gather insight from other projects across the region. Presenters emphasized the importance of community engagement, especially in the early stages of planning. Projects that involved neighbors from the start - especially youth and local organizations - reported stronger long-term stewardship and support. Designers highlighted the importance of safety considerations, such as maintaining sight lines in urban or school-adjacent sites. The summit also addressed concerns about public perception - particularly in suburban areas, where unfamiliar plantings can be misunderstood as unkempt. Participants recommended educational signage and storytelling to help communities embrace the vision.

Other takeaways included how mini-forests can reduce stormwater runoff and heat, with measurable cooling effects and better soil infiltration. Some sites reported up to 6x faster drainage compared to turf grass. A presenter from Belgium shared long-term data showing improved drought resilience and biodiversity gains even on degraded soils. Maintenance remains highest in the first two years, with steep declines afterward.

Looking Ahead. We continue to network and connect community expertise and experience from nearby projects. We are fortunate that the movement of mini-forests has struck a chord internationally, and these can now be found all over the world. Mini-forests in New England communities are a recent phenomenon, but they are popping up everywhere, and the level of interest grows. There is still so much to do, but the planning is progressing. More to come!